Tool-handle



w. B. SWAN. TOQL HANDLE.

Patented June '18, 1895..v

(R0 Model.)

n mi .4 3 IIMNEHH a x a e 3 0 l wane/50% Mmr/GZ/ UNrrEo STATES PATENT OF IE WILLIAM B. SWAN, OF SEYMOUR, CONNECTICUT.

TOOL-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 541,130, dated June 18, 1895. Application filed January 12, 1895. Serial No. 534,709. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. SWAN, a resident of Seymour, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Handles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in tool handles having ratchet devices for actuating the tool, which shall be simple in construction, comprise a small number of parts and be eifectual, in all respects, in the performance of its functions.

A further object is to so construct the handle that it shall present a neat and solid appearance.

A further object is to produce simple and efficient means for shifting the dogs of the ratchet device.

\Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views.

A represents a hollow handle suitably carved or decorated and made with an opening a through which the ratchet devices can be inserted, said handle being also made with a perforation bin its upper end for the reception of a screw by means of which to secure parts of the ratchet devices in place. When the parts shall have been placed in position the openings a b, will be closed by means of plugs a,b, the exterior of which will be made to conform to the contour of the handle so as to give the latter a solid external appearance.

Located within the body portion of the handle A is a plate 0 disposed to oneside of the bore of the handle and made integral with this plate and disposed at right angles thereto is a base plate 61, againstwhich the upper end of the tool holding tube C lightly beai's, said tube being prevented from lateral movement by means of lugs e, projecting from said base plate. The tube C is preferably made of steel and at its free end is split so as to give it a spring action and cause it to grasp the tool D inserted within it, said tool being provided with pins or projections f adapted to enter recesses f in the free end of the tube 0, whereby to prevent the tool from turning independently of the tube C. The respective ends of the tool may be differently shaped so that they can be utilized for different purposes. I Tube 0 is prevented from endwise movement by a screw 9' passing loosely through plate 0.

The upper end ofthe tube C is made with a series of ratchet teeth g, adapted to be engaged by dogs 71, h, (one dog at a time,) pivoted t0 the plate 0. The dogs-are so disposed relatively to the ratchet teeth g that one of said dogs will engage said teeth when the handle isturned in one direction and ride over them when the handle is turned in the reverse direction, the proper engagement of the dogs with the ratchet teeth being insured by a U- shaped spring i connected at its respective ends to the respective dogs.

A sleeve E is disposed within the handle A and encircles the tool holding tube C, the lower end of said sleeve being made with a flangej disposed parallel with the end of the handle and with serrations '70 to be hollow grasped by the operator to turn said sleeve.

The upper end of the sleeve E is made with an arm or projection Z having two small teeth or projections m at its free end adapted to ride over and be disposed at one or the other side of a tooth or projection 72, located at the junction of the plates 0 and d. A ferrule F is placed on the end ofthe handle A and made with an inwardly projecting flange 0 between which and the flangej on the sleeve E a spring 1) is located and adapted to retain the upper end of the arm Z to the side of the projection or tooth n at which it may be adjusted. From this construction and arrangement of parts it will be seen that when the sleeve E is turned the arm Z will engage one or the other of the dogs h and move it away from the ratchet teeth g, permitting the other dog to engage said ratchet teeth and, when the handle is turned back and forth, cause the tool to rotate right-handedly. Then it is desired that the tool rotate backwardly or left-handedly, the sleeve E will be turned in the opposite direction so to' cause the idle dog-to en gage the ratchet teeth and the previously act-' ive dog to be moved away therefrom and become idle.

My improvements are exceedingly simple in construction and fiectual, in every respect, in the performance of their functions.

Should it be at any time desired to operate the tool without using the ratchet devices,- the sleeve 'E will be turned half way its throw so that the arm Z will be disposed between the dogs h and permitboth of them to enga e the ratchet.teeth, thus locking the tool holding tube 0 to the handle.

Having fully described n y invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,isp 1. The con'jbination witha hollow tool handle, of a tool holding tube adapte'd t6 a tool, inserted in said handle, ratchet teeth on said tube, dogs to engage said ratchet teeth, a sleeve encircling said tube and having an em adapted to engage one er the ether er saidd'o'gs when the leeve is turned; to ,me've it away froin the ratchet teeth a teeth in the handle to retain said arin and sleeve" iii the position to which they aretuf'nd, a merge (in said sleev a ferrule on the'handlje having a flange, and a spring interposed between said flang's; substantially as and for the plilpb s'e setforth. i 1 i 2. The combination witha nenew'teinendle, of a tool hol ding tnbfe thereinhaiiifjg' ratchet teeth, a plate against which and tube e rs a. plate isve e nhre ewe t w first-then tioned plate and dogs pivete'd thereto adapted to engage" the ratchet teeth on the said tube, a sleeve erileirenfig tlie tube aiid men e o i one sd the firdfidl whereby it is manipulated an a'i'tn projectin new said s eeve and having team at its ree en a tooth on gem platesto be en'gega by the teeth on said am, said sleeve neing adept e'ilto' engage one or the other of said dogs to moveit out of contact with the ratchet teeth, 5 and a spring adapted to retain the sleeve in the position to which it is adjusted, substantiallyas set forth.

3. Thecornbination with a hollow tool handle, of a plate therein having a perforation,-a 5o tool holding tube in the handle resting against said plate, a screw passing loosely through the perforation in the plate and adapted to screw into said tube, ratchet teeth on the tube, dogs to engage the ratchet teeth, a spring to "insure such engagement, a sleeve protruding through one end of the handle whereby it is manipulated, said sleeve adapted to engage one or the other of said dogs when turned to move it out of contact with the ratchet teeth and a spring adapted to retain the sleeve in ti'tnyee set r nt.

t. The eornbinatien with a handle having the position tewhich it ie adjusted, substam renew bet-e forhiedaxially therein and extending from end to end thereof, and a transverse hole extending across this bore; of pair'of plates integral with each other and disposed at right angles to each other, one fitted r the inner end aii'djthe other to a side of' 7o specification in the presence of two Sub's'crib- 8o 

